tony

Posted on 11/15/10

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In these difficult financial times, the solution towards
finding jobs may not be within the states. From March
until August, I spent most of my financial resources
driving around the United States in search for a teaching
job. Unfortunately, most school districts were laying
workers off. To make matters worse, if they had any
openings, they were going to give the jobs to the teachers
who were recently fired. The only jobs that were available
to me were as a teacher assistant or a substitute teacher.
That is all fine and dandy. However, unless I wanted to
spend a few years living with my parents, I could not
financially afford this.

If you are in the same boat, the solution to the problems
is teaching abroad. However, what I found was that most
teaching jobs overseas are paying teachers far less than
they did a few years ago. Initially, I looked into South
Korea because they paid me 30,000 USD a few years ago. Now,
the average is around 20,000 USD. China paid around the
same amount of money. However, they paid more in Hong Kong.
Taiwan was trying to attract teachers with a teaching
degree, but I could not get them to agree to anything over
25,000 for the year. Japan was willing to pay me 25,000
USD. However, with the high cost of living, 25,000 USD
means you will not be able to save any money in Japan. When
I was living in Japan, if I did not go out for the month, I
could possibly save around 500 USD. I was also looking to
teach in Europe. However, it is difficult to find a way in
unless you belong to one of the EU countries. The salaries
in relation to the high cost of living were also low.

I have discovered that the solution is in the Middle East.
There are three countries that continue to pay a high
salary are as follows: Kuwait, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. If
you have a TESOL degree, many years of teaching experience,
and are an English major, Kuwait and the UAE would be your
best choice. However, if you lack those credentials, it is
difficult to find your way in. Saudi Arabia is currently
becoming the hot spot for native English speakers.
For example, my company over here pays over $25,000 in
benefits including the following:

• Base monthly salary, tax-free; paid vacation and
holidays
• Discretionary bonus based on fulfillment of the
full term of the contract and performance
• Quality and secure shared housing, with amenities
including utilities.

• Fully paid medical benefits, including dental and
optical coverage, in accordance with the plan
• Transportation to and from home and work locations
• Round trip transportation to and from Saudi
Arabia from your home country

The greatest thing about the salary is that it is around
what the average teacher is making in the United States.
However, the teacher’s only cost is food. In addition, not
only are your benefits not taxed, but your salary is not
taxed either. If a teacher is not saving 80% of their
paycheck, they are doing something wrong. The food over in
Riyadh is significantly lower than the costs in the United
States.
The greatest problem most teachers are afraid about when
traveling overseas are the cultural differences. There may
be differences. Although, when you live in the compound,
the culture is similar to the culture in your native
country. Saudi Arabia is filled with many different types
of foreigners. Every compound is like visiting another
country. There is a Latin compound where you can learn how
to salsa dance. There is an American compound where you can
drink homemade beer. The culture outside of the compound is
definitely Saudi. However, the compounds are a home away
from home.
I have multiple reasons for writing this letter. First of
all, I know the great pressure in trying to find a job in
the United States. Second, I am trying to recruit for my
college called CTI. We desperately need at least 20 new
teachers who can come into this program. My college had to
turn away 4,500 Saudi students because we lacked available
teachers.
If you are friendly, have any BS degree, are a native
English speaker, and have a passion for teaching, please
send me your resume and I will forward it to our HR person
at the college. Hopefully we can work together and ride out
the financially difficult times in Saudi Arabia. Good luck
in your search and I hope that your job search was not as
difficult as mine was.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send me an
email.
[email protected]
Sincerely,
Anthony Sisti

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